1st track day at Mazda Raceway
 

Just wanted to share my first track day at Laguna Seca...it was quite fun and I learned a lot. Also, definitely taking some tips on how to improve my line. Thanks =)

The first thing I noticed was your hands are all over the wheel. Try keeping your hands at 9 and 3 ;)

At the beginning you did a great job of driving your line and tracked out of 9 and didn't follow the other car. Toward the end you got off line and followed someone else's line through 9 and completely missed the apex. On a track day, you follow someone's line you follow their mistake.

I thought your line wasn't too bad. Apexes could have been tighter in places. I've only driven Laguna Seca once, but I take the entrance of 8 a little different. I stay more toward the middle aiming for the camera hole in the fence than tracking far right, but that could be just my preference :)

Thanks for sharing.

Looks like a solid first time out. Don't be afraid to go up on the turtles. Vision looks good, you're looking through the corner. I don't know what your goals are, but you can push more, you're leaving space at the exit, which means you can go faster through the corner. You don't want to drive the car to the edge on track out, you want it to land there under cornering force. At around 2.10 you get around the BRZ as you fly out of the corner, while he's hugging the inside. Do more of that and less of what he's doing.

How much does it cost to ride there?

Nice, what club was this with?
Generally speaking I agree with the other comments - try to keep your hands in a fixed position on the wheel, and you can use more of the track to help carry more speed.

Hello there. I spend quite a bit of time at Laguna Seca and was there on Thursday. Please feel free to contact me (PM) and I will share my personal contact info. I have served as a mentor for a few different HPDE groups and would be happy to ride with you and/or have you jump in my car. Disclaimer - I am not the fastest fella on the track, but I have an awesome time and love the teaching aspect!

I will be at Laguna Seca on 12/28 if you are interested. .

@Machinebros02 - on the cheap end $179 on the expensive end $350. Just depends on the organization. I wont mention specific track day organizations as I don't want to offend and/or promote without forum permission. They are not hard to find though - simple web search.

Here in Northern CA we are blessed with four tracks within a few hours drive - Thunderhill (now 5 miles long!!), Sonoma Raceway (will always be Sears Point to me...), Laguna Seca, and Buttonwillow (finally repaved, I hear). Try them all - take advantage of our location.

Was back at Laguna Seca on 12.28 and was able to muster up a 1:50 with a passenger.

I was there 12/27 and 12/28... should have checked the forum before I went...! d'oh!

I'm ... so jealous ...

One of my dream to drive until California and go on the Mazda track!!! :ylsuper:


I'm from Montréal , kind of a way to raise my kilo :P

I have tracked a few times at Streets of Willow. Planning to go to Laguna. Should I sign up as a beginner or immediate? How technical is this track?

On another note, what modifications did you do on your car? I have some nice grippy tires, mazda speed brakes and aero kit, spoiler but wondering what I should do to my car next to improve time.

Let me know. Thanks.

Work on the driver, not the car. The spoiler is not holding you back, trust me :)

go beginner and move to intermediate as you get faster. there are a lot more walls at laguna than SOW.

agree with Loki... tighten the nut behind the wheel.

I would say beginner, especially if its your first time on any given track, i dont think its too technical, its just my opinion but i feel like laguna is definitely a power track, a good portion is uphill and i felt the car definitely needed more power but i was definitely keeping it at 8/10.

As far as mods i just have good extreme summer tires, shocks and springs combo, sways, but like everyone else said, lots of practice and seat time is the best way to improve time.

the other thing is you don't want to do too much to your exhaust... the 91db limit comes fast... NR RB midpipe + RB cutback put me at 93.5db going past the sound box... if you have more exhaust than a resonated midpipe, might want to look at exhaust turnouts...

Cool...great post !